Rookie question
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Rookie question
I am having trouble getting a strait answer from anyone around here, was hoping you all could help.
I am thinking of buying a 36ft boat about 450 miles away from me, It is between 7000lbs and 9500lbs, Being as it is gov. surplus, I can't have it weighed before I buy it. The 38ft trailer is around 2500lbs. The trailer has a pintol (spelling?) hitch. The trailer is a 3 axle, but only has surge brakes on ONE of them. I know that I would be better off switching this set up to a 5th wheel or such and switching to a better brakeing system, But I can't do that until I get this thing home to my shop.
I DO NOT have the option of having this trailer/boat shipped to me If I buy it, since after buying it, I will be rolling pennies to buy fuel for the run down and back.
Would it be safe to tow home with an 06 250 diesel crew cab if I take it easy? Or does this sound like a disaster in the making?
I have years and thousands of miles of experience towing 20ft boats and trailers, but have never tired to push my trucks limits so hard before.
I am thinking of buying a 36ft boat about 450 miles away from me, It is between 7000lbs and 9500lbs, Being as it is gov. surplus, I can't have it weighed before I buy it. The 38ft trailer is around 2500lbs. The trailer has a pintol (spelling?) hitch. The trailer is a 3 axle, but only has surge brakes on ONE of them. I know that I would be better off switching this set up to a 5th wheel or such and switching to a better brakeing system, But I can't do that until I get this thing home to my shop.
I DO NOT have the option of having this trailer/boat shipped to me If I buy it, since after buying it, I will be rolling pennies to buy fuel for the run down and back.
Would it be safe to tow home with an 06 250 diesel crew cab if I take it easy? Or does this sound like a disaster in the making?
I have years and thousands of miles of experience towing 20ft boats and trailers, but have never tired to push my trucks limits so hard before.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 3
From: Valdez, Alaska
Man all those views and no one wanted to answer...
9500 boat gives you about 1000 hitch weight, give or take.
Truck 8000 + 1000 hitch gives you 9000 GVW.
What is your GVW???
9500 boat and say 8000 truck gives you 17,500 GCVW.
What does you manual give for GCVW???
Need to know weights of your truck and the specifications in the manula to answer...
9500 boat gives you about 1000 hitch weight, give or take.
Truck 8000 + 1000 hitch gives you 9000 GVW.
What is your GVW???
9500 boat and say 8000 truck gives you 17,500 GCVW.
What does you manual give for GCVW???
Need to know weights of your truck and the specifications in the manula to answer...
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 851
Likes: 0
From: N. Georgia
If the boat is 7k it should be a piece of cake, if it is 9.5k then it gets a little dicey. Either way it will pull OK, just be harder and slower to come home. I would hook my truck to 10k bumper pull and go down the road and never think twice about it. Start off slower until you get adjusted to the feel of the load and get comfortable with it, then you can decide how fast you can go with it. You have experience towing, so I think you'll be all right. The truck will pull it for you with no problems.
Good luck and be safe, Joe
Good luck and be safe, Joe
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 1
From: Nothern Indiana
You can buy the pintol hitch that bolts to a 2" reciever that will work on the hitch of your truck. Your truck will have enough power to tow it with ease. If you have towed boats before I wouldn't sweat it at all. You will get about 9mpg towing that thing but it will tow it with no problems. Most drive away co get about $2.00 per mile . If you were near me I would tow it for ya .
Congrats on the new boat
Glad when you buy them
Glad when you sell them
Congrats on the new boat
Glad when you buy them
Glad when you sell them
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65,938
Likes: 1,432
From: Millersville, MD
Don't forget that PULLING the trailer is one thing...STOPPING that trailer is quite another. YOu say it has surge brakes on ONE axle? Be careful...be VERY careful !
I wouldn't tow that thing much over 45 MPH if it were me until I got very used to see how well it stops. If those surge brakes don't do well, 45 will have to do all the way. YOur truck will pull it without too much of a problem .. and pull it quickly. Just be very careful with your speed. YOu will be able to go much better than you can stop!
I wouldn't tow that thing much over 45 MPH if it were me until I got very used to see how well it stops. If those surge brakes don't do well, 45 will have to do all the way. YOur truck will pull it without too much of a problem .. and pull it quickly. Just be very careful with your speed. YOu will be able to go much better than you can stop!
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 986
Likes: 0
From: Gulf Shores, AL
Are the surge breaks disc or drum? I pull a boat all the time on a tripple axle trailer with one set of surge discs on the front and absolutly no problems at 70mph on the interstate. As a matter of fact it pulls better than any other traier I have pulled. The boat and trailer weigh about 11000# and uses a 2-5/16 ball. I do not think you will have a problem but remember you are as long as a semi and stopping does take a little longer.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
38 feet, that is a pretty long trailer. Manuevering something that long could be tricky, so watch where you pull into and make sure you don't trap yourself in a narrow street or while getting gas etc. Tight street corners are going to be fun.
I have no experience with Pintle hitches.
Since it is surplus I would make a thorough inspection of the hitch, suspension and tires before I towed it far. If the tires are old and cracked you could have a blow out.
Not sure about how good surge brakes are other than most magazine articles recommend the active brake systems most of us have.
Get a good feel for how this thing handles and stops before you get upto a lot of speed.
Check your weights and limits to be sure you are safe.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
I have no experience with Pintle hitches.
Since it is surplus I would make a thorough inspection of the hitch, suspension and tires before I towed it far. If the tires are old and cracked you could have a blow out.
Not sure about how good surge brakes are other than most magazine articles recommend the active brake systems most of us have.
Get a good feel for how this thing handles and stops before you get upto a lot of speed.
Check your weights and limits to be sure you are safe.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Thanks for all the answers and suggestions folks.
However due to some issues that popped up with the boat being misrepresented, we have declined to purchase it. The diesel engines did not run, they had said they did, Heck, they are frozen solid.
And thankfully we did not buy it, since it weighs 22,000lbs, (The trailer is 5,000lbs)
We could NOT have pulled that home.
However due to some issues that popped up with the boat being misrepresented, we have declined to purchase it. The diesel engines did not run, they had said they did, Heck, they are frozen solid.
And thankfully we did not buy it, since it weighs 22,000lbs, (The trailer is 5,000lbs)
We could NOT have pulled that home.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote